Dialectology

The study of regional variations in language, including pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

What is dialectology?

"Dialectology (from Greek διάλεκτος, dialektos, "talk, dialect"; and -λογία, -logia) is the scientific study of linguistic dialect, a sub-field of sociolinguistics."

Which sub-field of linguistics does dialectology belong to?

"It is a sub-field of sociolinguistics."

What is the main focus of dialectology?

"It studies variations in language based primarily on geographic distribution and their associated features."

What aspects of language do dialectologists analyze?

"Dialectologists are ultimately concerned with grammatical, lexical and phonological features that correspond to regional areas."

Who do dialectologists study?

"They usually deal not only with populations that have lived in certain areas for generations, but also with migrant groups that bring their languages to new areas (see language contact)."

What are some commonly studied concepts in dialectology?

"Commonly studied concepts in dialectology include the problem of mutual intelligibility in defining languages and dialects; situations of diglossia, where two dialects are used for different functions; dialect continua including a number of dialects of varying intelligibility; and pluricentrism, where a single language has two or more standard varieties."

Who are two prominent researchers in the field of dialectology?

"Hans Kurath and William Labov are among the most prominent researchers in this field."

What does dialectology examine in relation to local dialects?

"It studies variations in language based primarily on geographic distribution and their associated features."

What does dialectology analyze to understand language variation?

"Dialectologists are ultimately concerned with grammatical, lexical and phonological features."

What types of populations do dialectologists study?

"They deal with populations that have lived in certain areas for generations and migrant groups that bring their languages to new areas."

What are some challenges faced in dialectology?

"The problem of mutual intelligibility in defining languages and dialects."

What is diglossia?

"Situations of diglossia, where two dialects are used for different functions."

What is a dialect continuum?

"Dialect continua including a number of dialects of varying intelligibility."

What is pluricentrism?

"Pluricentrism, where a single language has two or more standard varieties."

What does dialectology study related to language contact?

"Dialectologists study language contact between migrant groups and the local populations."

What is the objective of dialectology?

"Dialectologists are ultimately concerned with grammatical, lexical and phonological features."

What is the difference between dialects and languages?

"The problem of mutual intelligibility in defining languages and dialects."

What are the research interests of dialectologists?

"Grammatical, lexical, and phonological features corresponding to regional areas."

What is the relationship between dialectology and sociolinguistics?

"Dialectology is a sub-field of sociolinguistics."

What does dialectology analyze in terms of language differences?

"Dialectology studies variations in language based primarily on geographic distribution and their associated features."